The
Challenge
When the MirrorMirror team approached us, they had a simple concept: an app where users crowdsource opinions on style, fitness, beauty, or creative choices through themed photo ratings. The idea needed structure—MirrorMirror was just a name and a dream. Our goal was to build a fresh, fun, and reflective social platform with an interface that encourages repeat engagement and easy participation.
Our
Approach
We started by unpacking the core experience: themed photo ratings where users could post photos and receive a score from the community. Whether it was comparing festival looks, hiking shots, or everyday fits, the platform needed to support high engagement through smooth user flows and a clear rating lifecycle.
The foundational features of the app:
Scoring System
The scoring system lets users assign a score from 1–10 to each photo.
Private & Public Ratings
The ability for the user to create both public and private ratings.
Rating Lifecycle
A two-phase rating lifecycle—a submission period followed by a rating period.
Badge System
A badge system to reward users for activity milestones.
App
Design
With prioritized features, we designed an architecture and interface that make participation effortless and rewarding. The MirrorMirror brand needed to convey something timeless and striking. Inspired by the fairy tale phrase “Mirror, mirror on the wall,” we created a look rooted in playful elegance, featuring dark greens, gold accents, and a logo shaped like a stylized crown.
What originally started as a bright, airy UI
evolved into a royal aesthetic, resulting
in a bold, distinctive look.
Elements we designed for:
Photo-first Dashboard
The dashboard showcases active ratings and recent submissions.
Profile Achievement Badges
To celebrate milestones like “First Rating Created”, a “10 Day Streak”, or earning a “Gold Status” rating.
Rating Animations
Rating includes swipe and tap gestures for intuitive engagement.
Onboarding screens
These screens were created to guide new users through rating creation and participation.
Unique Graphics
We designed a mirror-inspired graphic on the opening sign-in screen for a branded look.
Color Customizations
Giving the user a simple way to customize how they view the app with 6 color options.
iOS & Android
Development
We developed MirrorMirror natively for both iOS and Android to ensure responsive, smooth performance across devices. The app required real-time transitions between rating phases, seamless media handling, and a user-friendly flow for both rating creation and participation.
Core technical features included:
Photo Submission Window
Giving users a two-day photo submission window, followed by a three-day rating period.
Social Sharing Integrations
Allowing users to promote their ratings across other social platforms.
Minimum Photo Detection
Automatic detection of when a rating reaches the required minimum (5 photos) and phase-shifting accordingly.
Privacy Controls
For determining who could view and participate in each rating.
Push Notification
Keeping users engaged and informed as ratings progress.
App
Launch
Following testing and refinements, MirrorMirror launched on both the App Store and Google Play. The initial release featured a curated set of starter ratings, onboarding prompts, and an emphasis on ease of participation.
Early adoption came from style-conscious users and creative communities looking for quick feedback in a supportive, gamified setting. The combination of sleek branding, a streamlined rating system, and photo-first design helped the app stand out in a crowded social landscape.
The
Benefits
We built the MirrorMirror app from the ground up, handling strategy, branding, UX, design, and development end to end. It delivers a distinct, polished brand identity that merges fantasy inspiration with modern usability. The core rating system promotes interaction and feedback in a low-pressure, highly visual way, while the milestone badge system celebrates and encourages ongoing participation. Clean, intuitive flows make starting and joining ratings frictionless, and the cross-platform launch provides a consistent experience on both iOS and Android.